Expanding rod joint



Oct. 17, 1961 R. w. woLF 3,004,785

EXPANDING ROD JOINT Filed Jan. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR/P'asf/Pr #Kn/045 ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1961 R. w. WOLF EXPANDING ROD JOINT2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1959 I NV EN TOR Raaf/7- /K Wam ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent On EXPANDING ROD JOINT l Rob er t W. Wolf,Philadelphia, Pa., assigner to Heintz DrvlsronKelseyHayes Company,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 7, 1959,Ser. No. 785,359

Y 4 Claims. (Cl.28764) This invention relates to an expanding rod jointand to a means for joining a pair of ends of two parallel rods so asV toform yan energy absorbing joint.

The present invention provides a means whereby two rods may be joinedtogether at oneend thereof so that the rods may be pulledapart intocontinuous lengths, the joint forming an energy absorbing means. It canbe appreciated that when a sudden force is applied to spread twoparallel rods, if the entire force is exerted at a single point on thejoint, there would be a tendency for the joint to break at thatparticular point. By virtue of the present invention this possibility iseliminated in that the separation force is distributed and the impact isabsorbed before the load reaches maximum and the maximum point of jointstrength is reached.

According to the present invention there is provided a series of endblocks which are used to interconnect the parallel rods. Each end blockhas a cross-section which is substantially equal to the cross-section ofa pair of rods. Each end block is formed with a tapered groove whichextends between the point of welding of the rod ends and the midportionof the block. The rod ends are welded or brazed to the end block and awhole series of 4these blocks and rods may be assembled making a matthat may be curved and joined to form a cylindrical structure. A forcetending to expand the parallel rods so as to extend them to a continuouslength will be absorbed by the end blocks. The block will tend to shearY or tear along the grooved portion so that this groove forms an energyabsorbing means. The maximum strength of the end block is at thatportion where no groove is present and the full cross-section of theblock is available. It is at this point that maximum bending occursrather than at the point where the rod is welded to the end block.

The present invention has particular application in what is known as acontinuous rod warhead. A projectile is provided with an encircling bandof rods and end blocks connected in the manner hereinafter described. Ata predetermined time or at a predetermined point the exploding force ofthe projectile expands the cylindrical rod and end block assembly sothat it forms a large circular continuous rod. This continuous rod whichis moving forwardly at high speed can inflict great damage to enemyaircraft, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means for connectinga pair of ends of rods in which the joint provides means for absorbingthe impact of a force tending to extend the parallel rods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means forjoining a pair of rods to an end block so that when a force is appliedtending to extend the rods into a continuous length, the point ofmaximum bending will not be at the point where the rods are welded tothe end block.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become apaprent upon consideration of the followingdetailed speciiication taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

lFIGURE 1 is a top-plan view of an end block in accordance with thepresent invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side-elevation of an end block,

FIGURE 3 is an end-elevation of the block shown in FIGURES 1 and 2,

j 3,004,785 Patented Oct; 17, 1961 ICC FIGURE 4 is a side-elevationshowing a series of rods connected to a plurality of end blocks,

FIGURE 5 is a top-plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4,

IFIGURE 6 is a side-elevation of a modiiied form of bar,

FIGURE 7 is a View showing the plurality of the rods of FIGURE 6connected to end blocks,

FIGURE 8 is a view showing the parallel rods extended into a continuousrod,

FIGURE 9 is the View showing the manner of welding the rods to theendblock,

FIGURE 10 is a detailed view of the one joint in expanded position. Y

Referring now to these drawings wherein like numerals indicate likeparts -throughout the several views there is shown at 1 in FIGURE l1 anend block having upper and lower tapered slits or grooves 2 and 3therein. It can be seen that these grooves extend from one end of theblock to a point intermediate the ends so that there is provided an endportion 4 which is of full cross-sectional area without any portionthereof being cut away. The taper of the groove may be made of anydesired depth and contguration to produce any desired results as will befully apparent hereinafter.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 there is shown a series of end blocks 5, 6,and 7, for example, which connect pairs of ends of rods together whereasend blocks 8, 9, and 10, for example, connect pairs of the other ends ofthe rods together. As shown, end block 5 interconnects the ends of rods=1t1 and 112. The opposite end of rod 11 is connected to block 8 whereasthe opposite end of rod 12 is connected to an end block which would bemounted above block 8. The rods are connected to the blocks by weldingor brazing the ends thereof to the end faces of the end blocks such asfaces ,13 and |14 shown in FIGURE 3. It is possible to stack the endblocks and rods as shown in FIGURE 4 and iiash weld the rods to theblocks along the lines 15 and 16. The flash Weld interconnecting the endblocks will be of neglible strength and have little effect on theoperating characteristic of the assembly. A mat of assembled end blocksand rods may be formed in the shape of a cylinder and joined so as toproduce a continuous cylindrical arrangement suit able for use as acontinuous rod warhead as referred to previously.

Alternatively rods may be bent in the form shown in FIGURE 6 at 17 and aseries of these rods interconnected with end blocks 18 and 19 as shownin FIGURE 7. Upon completion of a rod and end block assembly such asshown in IFIGURE 7, the assembly may be compressed so that it is insubstantially the same form as that shown in FIGURE 4.

In FIGURE 8 is shown an arrangement of rods when expanded to form acontinuous rod assembly. A pair of rods '18 and 119, for example, areinterconnected by an end lblock 20. In the event that the originalassembly is of cylindrical form, the assembly will form a large ringwhen in the expanded position. Each of the joints will be in the shapeshown in FIGURE 4i0. It can be seen that the point of maximum stress isat the end of the tapered groove. [The end block at this point hasmaximum strength characteristics. Furthermore, the point of maximum bendstress is at a point spaced from the point where the rods are welded tothe end block. The tapered grooves provide means for absorbing theenergy of the impact of the force tending to expand the rods so that theentire stress is lnot suddenly placed on any one point in the end block.

Obviously many modiiications and variations of the present invention arepossible in light of the above teach- 3 ings.A What is claimed as lnewand desired to be secured by Letters -Patentsfis:

1. A rod joint comprising a pair of rods and a block for connecting therods and absorbing the impact of forces tending to `separate the rods,vorte end portion of the block being solid andi-the opposite "endportion Abeing bifurcated into end branches, and means connecting an endof eachof the rods with one of 'thecnd branches, said end branchesb'eing formed Vby av recess disposed centrally in said bfurcated endportion of the block and dened by two grooves ldisposed longitudinallyon opposite sides of the -bifurcated end `:portion-and each taper, ingboth inwardly extendingKV from its side of .the `end portion towards thelongitudinal .laxis ofthe end petition and inwardly extending fromthenend of the. block .to a point adjacent the center of the Fblock.

v2. A rod joint accordi-'ngtozclaim 1 Wherein vthe block has a crosssectional area substantially equalrto Vthe total cross sectional areaofthe .pair of irods.

3. A rod 'joint according :to claim 1 wherein said end of the rod abutsthe freeV endof the end branch with the respective end portions fof therod and branch in longitudinal alignment.

Y 4 4. A rod assembly comprising a plurality of rods disposed instacked, substantially. parallellclationhip and a plurality of blocksconnecting rod pairs to form a continuous sequence of the rods, each ofthe blocks having a solid free end portion and a` bifurcated end portionproviding end branchesto, eachfofwhich one of the rods issconnecreid.. ix s AReferences Giteddnfthefleioffthisrpatent UNITED.

281,760 GingrasV July 24, I1883 413,730 Palmer wOct. 29, 1889 1,408,675Wimberg` Mar. 7, 1922 1,764,617 =Ford June `17, 1930 1,860,521 AndersonMay 31,y 1932 1,9735113V Schulz Sept. 11d, 1934 2,071,809 Anderson Feb.23, 1937 2,338,485 Beyer Jan. l'4,y 1944 2,404,017 Wilkinson July xT6,1946 2,477,263 Otterson `Iulny 26, 41949 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,737 GreatBritain July/5 1901

